The first permits are up for a new mixed-use building at 655 West 187th Street, in Fort George; the recently-prolific team at HAP is the developer, and Karl Fischer is listed as the architect of record, though it appears that Karim Rashid is the design architect.
655 West 187th Street will measure 57,951 square feet, including 8,418 square feet for a community facility. The building will stand eight stories and 80 feet tall, and the residential portion of the project will be divided between 47 units.
Karim Rashid has conceived other buildings for HAP, and the first renderings for the project would indicate the designer is also involved at 655 West 187th Street, though the structure’s appearance will be a departure from his other recent creation, at 329 Pleasant Avenue.
655 West 187th Street, image by Karim Rashid/HAP
Despite the dissonance in form, 655 West 187th Street appears to be equally zany; the facade will be dominated by fifty shades of purple, and windows will resemble a losing game of Tetris. Given the building will only stand eight stories tall, its unique appearance will be invisible on the overall skyline, so neighbors will have to appreciate the project from the immediate vicinity.
Karim Rashid wrote an ode to the development on HAP’s website, explaining how “The façade color-story is inspired by the New York State bush, Lilac […] which has been reinterpreted into a pixilated image,” with the end result comprised of “various shades of purples, lilacs, silver, and golds.”
Given the currently vacant lot, the project still presents an opportunity for improvement of the neighborhood, though the design may or may not draw criticism. At the very least, it will enhance the block’s street-wall in a very distinct fashion.
655 West 187th Street, image via Google Maps
Per Rashid’s letter, the building will be comprised of “democratic yet highly designed” condominiums. No completion date has been announced, but with filings now available at the DOB, construction would appear imminent.
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When are they going to start giving out applications for the apartments